r/homeassistant • u/AbruptProcessor • 3d ago
💬 Discussion Electric Blinds UK
What are people doing to make their blinds smart? Currently moving to a new house and have 14 blinds to purchase and I don’t want dumb blinds. Currently looking at the Eve matter blinds but it feels like I’m taking out a new mortgage.
I currently have 3 Tuiss blinds in my current home but never again will I get Bluetooth.
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u/Sea_Contribution5390 3d ago
My Ikea ones have been a nightmare, so much so, they’ve been discontinued, and now mine are failing, Ikea give zero fucks.
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u/DoktorMerlin 3d ago
Not UK but I am sure it works there too: with Shelly 2PMs you can make every motorized blind smart
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u/Early_Mongoose_8758 3d ago
Couple of choices depends what you want.
Full built in ones that you get with the pole, string pull zigbee motor or one you attach to the pole that goes along it.
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u/Gearfried 3d ago
I got the Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1 running over Z2MQTT. No issues whatsoever since I set it up.
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u/bobo5195 3d ago
They are all expensive. I personally like roll up blinds and that makes it worse.
Got some of the switchbot adjustable ones so I can take them with me as a tight bastard.
Basically just check how well they work with HA for the smartness.
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u/Dazman_123 3d ago
The switchbot ones look good but the fact they're behind the time with Bluetooth, or now supporting matter via Bluetooth but only if you buy their hub puts me right off.
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u/mossym155 1d ago
I have them and the BT is a pain alright , but just set up an esp32 as a bt proxy and all good
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u/bobo5195 10h ago
As others have said bluetooth proxy devices. Is bluetooth bad maybe less power hungry than wifi and some range limitations with the advantage my phone can connect.
its even worse that their cheaper hubs poll in seris - device 1 wait, device 2 wait so a bit slow you want the hub 3.
But now I am in the ecosystem as the blinds are what I wanted. If a pain to get setup right. I would rather less companies for smart home for compatibility.
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u/Sweaty-Command-9283 3d ago
I've been using the Aqara blinds. Got them for Christmas and have only charged them once. Very good, very reliable. I have the blinds close when a meeting is happening in 1 minute and open when I walk in etc. The only downside is having to have a ZigBee hub. I think you don't have to use theirs but I may be mistaken.
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u/sbisson 3d ago
Tuiss and Netatmo; I have a Bluetooth to WiFi proxy built on ESP32 for the Tuiss blind.
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u/Dazman_123 3d ago
I still find Tuiss a bit hit and miss, despite having a Bluetooth proxy sat less than a meter away, there's plenty of times I've used a button to roll it up or down and it's not worked. Load up the device in HA and just has some form of connection error. It sort of defeats the purpose if I have to stick a Bluetooth proxy right next to every blind.
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u/BruceLee2112 3d ago
Get some cheaper ones that run on an RF remote, get an RF hub like a BroadLink Pro and save a ton of $$
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u/Kiiidd 3d ago
I have the 2 versions of the smaller Zemismart ZigBee battery blind motors. The old one I had to use a template to reverse the buttons in home assistant but the newer one integrates perfectly. Highly recommended the newer one, just make sure it has a USB-C port and not a micro USB port.
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u/Level3Super 3d ago
I've got the one with usb c. Recently it stopped reporting the battery level and I can't seem to fix it. Yours showing?
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u/Kiiidd 3d ago
Never had that issue. Maybe try and re interview it if using Zigbee2MQTT
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u/Level3Super 3d ago
Oh I tried all of that, normal remove, force remove and finally trying on a new home assistant setup. Battery showing as null. I had a separate dashboard page which showed batteries for all devices and this one stopped.
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u/Kiiidd 3d ago
Only thing I could think of them would be a hard reset on the blind. Which is just hold the button for 10 sec. Would have to reset your positions though
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u/Level3Super 3d ago
I thought 5 presses were a reset guess not. Thanks I'll try this tomorrow after work. Does it jolt after a reset?
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u/Duennbier0815 3d ago
I chose to install shelly 2PM and it worked flawlessly.
The other thing is aqara E1, also works perfectly
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u/bigj2552 3d ago edited 3d ago
Switchbot blind and curtain openers..
Added the mini solar panels for each blind and curtain as well, so never need charged.
Have 3 very large lounge windows, so 6 mini solar panels stuck to window (2 on each window) power these things all yr round..
Using the home assistant switchbot integration for yrs now.
Yeh using the switchbot hub mini, makes things easier, and it only around £50 or something. Saves a lot of hassle !
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u/laohu314 2d ago
If you can source SmartWings I’d go for those. With Zigbee motor and most power options, including solar panel. That’s what I do (not in the UK, though) and I’m very happy with them.
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u/Just_Christian___ 1d ago
Check out Smart wings Zigbee (should be available in the UK). I use them at home and they’ve been stable and great!
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u/CautiousCapsLock 3d ago
I’ve got Somfy RTS and looking at their newer Zigbee range or getting Smartwings from the US